Metering panel-switchboard.



J. J. WESLEY.

METERING PANEL SWITCHBOARD APPLICATION FILED JULY 81, 1913.

1 1 1 9 4 Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

J. J. WESLEY.

METERING PANEL SWITOHBOARD.

APPLICATION FILED JULY31,1913.

1,1 1 9,484. Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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JOSEPH J. WESLEY, 0F DOUGLASTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO METROPOLITAN ELECTRIC & MFG. 60., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

METERING PANEL-SVVITCHBOARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

Application filed July 31, 1913. Serial No. 782,211.

The general type of switchboard to which I the invention is particularly applicable consists of an insulating base having a plurality of longitudinally disposed permanent conductors, each of which may be connected to any of a plurality of transverse conductors by selective switches mounted on the latter. the transverse conductors being connected to the consumption or load circuits which are usually provided with switches v for controlling the same.

One of the objects of the invention is to prevent the operation of the selective switches until the load switches controlling the consumption circuits have been opened, avoiding any ,danger of arcing between the longitudinallydisposed conductors and the selective switches which might otherwise occur if there were a heavy load on the consumption circuit. 7

Another object of the invention is to prevent the unauthorized opening and closing of the selective. switches and the load terminal switches;

-W'ith these and other objects in view, my invention consists in means for preventing the opening of each of the selective switches when its corresponding loadswitch is closed and the closing of the load switch when its selective switch is open and also in means for permanently locking or sealing the selective switches in their'open or closed positions, each of which means may be used alone or in combination, the mutual relation between the two means efiectually preventing the unauthorized manipulation of the switch board.

in the drawings, 1 have shown a form of metering panel switch-board for a threewire system, the general characteristics or" which are old but will be described broadly to clearly define the novel. features of the present invention.

lln the drawings, Figure. 1. 15 a, plan of the panel board, a portion of the board being omitted; Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1; Figs. 3 and i are details of the interlocking and sealing means.

Longitudinally-disposed upon a base A of 'slate, marble or some other insulating material, are the permanent conductors 1 to 14, inclusive, which are suitably mounted on insulating bridges 15. Terminals are provided at one end of each ,of these conductors whereby the same may be connected to the meterdoops, one of which is shown in Fig. 1.

Arranged immediately above but out of contact with conductors 1 to 14:, are a like number of transverse conductors 16, 1'2, etc. An equal number of consumption circuits are provided which are located on opposite sides of the conductors 1 to 14, one pair of each of the respective sets of terminals being designated 18, 19 and 20, 21. The consumption circuits are alternately connected to the transverse conductors 16, 17, etc, through one of these terminals, as, for example, terminal 18 is connected to conductor 16, and terminal 21 to conductor 17. All of the conductors 16, 17, etc, and their connections to the consumption circuits and longitudinal conductors 1 to 1d, are identical. For this reason, the middle portion of the board has been omitted in the drawing and only one circuit on the board will be hereinafter described in detail.

The electric power is supplied to the board through a single-throw three-pole switch 22, each of the outer poles of which are connected by means of bus-bars to a set of terminals 23, 21-, and 25, 26, etc, respectively,

'which correspond in number and position to the terminals 18, 19 and 20, 21, of the consumption circuits. Each of the terminals 23, 2e, 25, 26, etc., is adapted to be con nected to any of the meter terminals on the ends of the rods 1 to it, by meter-loops having a meter connected thereto through which the supply of current may be measured. The neutral or middle pole of the "switch 22 may be grounded or not as desired, and is connected by a bus-bar 27 to the parallel bus-bars 28 and 29, one side of each of the consumption or load circuits being connected to one of the bus-bars 28, 29 through which a return for the load circuit is adorded.

17, insuring that these two parts will remain A in goodf electrical contact.

' lfiastenedto the underside of the sleeve 32.

arespring contact jaws 36 which areadapted 5 in one position of the conductor 17 to electrically connect the latter to oneof the longitudinal conductors 1 to 14, depending upon the position of the sliding sleeve on thejcon ductor 17. The lower ends of one side of 9 theispring-j aws36 are curved or spread 01111 wardly to form guides to permit thespring jawsiifi to. be readily engaged with one of the conductors 1 to 14 when the sleeve is rocked or rotated to contact making position. The part of the sleeve 32 which extends above the conductor 17 is provided with an inclined surface to which is fastened, a handle or knob 37 by which the sleeve32, and. therefore the conductor 17, are rockeddnagclockwise direction, as will behreinafterfreferred to. It will vbeevi- I dent-thereforelthat the sleeve, 32 may be slid albng' the conductor; 17 until it is immediately-above the longitudinal conductor with .35 which it is desired to make contact, when'it may be rocked to make contact between the jaws 36 and the selected longitudinal conductor.v These parts therefore constitute a switch which will hereinafter bereferred to as the selective switch. 'Gontact springs38- electrically connect the conductor. N'tothe upright 31, which is-connected by connector- 39 to spring-jaws 40 which are connected by one blade of a singlethrow. switch 41, preferably through a fuse,

tothelterminal 21 of the load circuit. gothertermin'al 20 of the load circuit is connectediby the other blade of the switch 41 to thefispringjaws 42 which are connected to the' bus-bar 29 formingtthe return for the circuit through the neutral of the three-wire system: The switch 41, therefore controls the-consumption or load circuit and will be hereinafter referred'to as the load switch.'

Itisevident from the preceding description that the consumption circuit or load circuit may be connected by the selective switch to any of the longitudinal conductors 1 to 14; the connection to each of the other consumption circuits being identical;

The endlij iof the conductor 17 extends through'the upright 31, as shown'in Fig.3 and 318 provided with a cap or block 42 of insulating material which fits over its outer end and is firmly secured to it. The up- The posed between vthe 'oiiset part 43and the block 42' is a circular disk 45 which is thereby insulated from the upr ght 31 and the conductor 17, the hole in the disk 45 which fits around the conductor 17 being somewhat larger-than the diameter of the same to prevent electrical contact between these two spaced substantially from each other, 'whichhave apertures or holes 49 and 50 adapted to register with the aperture-44 WhenQ-the-seIectiVe switch is in either its closedor-opemposition. As shown, when the conductonllhas been turned to bring the spring-jaws 36 into contact with one of the, longitudinal conductors 1 to 14, holes 44 and 50 will be in registry. A wire, the ends of which are joined'by a lead seal, or indeed any-..--other-.= form of lock, may be passed through the alining apertures 44 and 50 forming a permanent lock. This prevents the selective switch from being rocked out of contact with the selected longitudinal conductor-and connected to any other of the longitudinal conductors which would permit theconnecting of the load circuit to the meter-of'another-tenant. When the selective switch has been turned to open position, the

holes-49 and44' will be in registry and the switch may be locked or sealedin this position in v-theamanner already described. In order tochangethe position ofthe selective switch-,,it:i$;therefore necessary to break this dock: dr;.=seal,.-;whichwill give notice to the eleetrieali'icompa' tampered with. F

Preferably integral with the disli 45 is an L-shaped blade "51 bent at right anglesto y that the boardbeen the disk, and extending to a position in close proximity to a handle 52' of the load switch 41 when the selective and load switches are 'parts. Disk 45 has two lugs 47 and 48,

in their closed position. (See Fig. 4.) This blade: 51 .forms an effectivev lock between these two switches, for, if an attempt is madewto rock the" selective switch to open position ina clockwise direction as viewed in Fig.4, the blade 51 will abut against one end of the handle 52 and'p'revent the selective switch from'being opened prior to the opening of the load switch. If an attempt is made to rotate the sleeve 32 in a counter clockwise'direction the freee xtremity of the knob orhandle 32, since the same'is arranged at a considerable angle to the vertical'when -the switch 'isinfits normally closed position, 1 will abut the conductor 13 before the switch blades are entirely disengaged from the same and the opening of the switch pretherefore always dead before the selective switch may be operated, and-for this reason ventedi The transverse conductor 17 is antenna.

the danger of arcing between the springjaws 36 and the: longitudinal conductor to which it is connected is entirely eliminated.

i lbhen the selective and load switches are in their openposi-tion,ythe L'shaped blade 51- will: be directly? over the spring-jaws 40 adapted for contact with the lOHCl SWIlJClI 41, which will prevent the load I switch! 41 from bei n=g..-closed prior tothe closing, oi"

there is a heavy" current passing through= the load circuits is entirely overcome. More over, if the transverse conductor 17 is locked with its corresponding selective switch in open position, it is impossible for a tenant or other person to connect the load in circuit by using a connector between the transverse conductor 17 and one of the longitudinal conductors, as the load circuit still remains open at the load switch, which switch cannot be closed due to the interposition of the L-shaped blade 51 between the spring-jaws 40 and the blade of the load switch 41, thus safe-guardingthe board against the unwarranted use of current. 'lhe interlocking mechanism and permanent locking means between each of the other selective switches and load switches are similar and will not be described.

While I have shown my invention in connection with a panel switchboard for a three-wire system, yet it is not my intention to be limited to this specific .form, as the invention is equally applicable to switchboards using a two-wire system and to other uses within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my inventioml claim:

1. In a panel switchboard, an; insulating base, a plurality of permanent conductors thereon, load switches, means including a selective switch for electrically connecting each of said load switches to any of said permanent conductors, and means for pre venting the opening of each selective switch when its corresponding load switch is closed and the closing of the load switch when its selective switch is open.

2. In a panel switchboard, an insulating base, a plurality of permanent conductors arranged longitudinally and transversely thereon, the transverse conductors being rotatable, slidable selective switches on each of said transverse conductors, constrained to rotate therewith, a plurality of load switches one for each of the transverse conductors, and means for preventing the opening of each selective switch when its corresponding load switch is closed and the closing of the load switch when its selective switch is open,

3. I111 91 panel 1 switchboard, an insulating base, a plurality of permanent conducters arranged longitudinally and transversely thereon, the transverse' conductors being rotatable, slidable selective switches ion": each a of said transverse: conductorsgconstrained torotate therewith; a pluralityof load" switches one: for eachiofthe transverse condu'ctors, and means: comprising a bla de "fixed i to the end of ea'ch of the transverse condud tors :and. abetting a p'artfiof the load switch for: preventingisthe' opening 'of tlfe selective switch in one directionwhenthe load switclr is closed and the closing of the load switch when the selective switch" isopn'? 4;- ln a panel switch board, an insulating base, a plurality of permanent conductors thereon, load switches, means including a selective switch for electrically connecting each of said load switches to any of said permanent conductors, and means for permanently locking each of said selective switches in its connected or disconnected position.

5. In a panel switchboard, an insulating base, a plurality of permanent conductors thereon, load switches, means including a selective switch for electrically connecting each of said load switches to any of said permanent conductors, means for preventing the opening of each selective switch when its corresponding load switch is closed and the closing of the load switch when its selective switch is open, and means for permanently locking each of said selective switches in its connected or disconnected position.

6. In a panel switchboard, an insulating base, a plurality of permanent conductors arranged longitudinally and transversely thereon, said transverse conductors being rotatable, selective switches slidably mounted on each of said transverse conductors for connecting each of the transverse conduc-' tors to any of the longitudinal conductors, and means for permanently locking each of said transverse conductors and its corresponding selective switch in connected or disconnected relation to any of the longitudinal conductors.

7. In a panel switchboard, an insulating base, a plurality of permanent conductors arranged longitudinally and transversely thereon, said transverse conductors being rotatable, selective switches slidably mounted on each of said transverse conductors for connecting each of the transverse conductors to any of the longitudinal conductors, a plurality of load switches one for eachof said transverse conductors, means for preventing the opening of each of the selective switches when its corresponding load switch is closed and the closing of the load switch when its selective switch is open, and means for perman ently locking each of said transverse the aperture in said standard and one of the apertures in said disk. t

9. In 'apanel switchboard, a switch, a

rotatable conductor electrically connected 15 thereto, and a blade rigidly mounted on said conductor arranged in close proximity to said switch for preventing the rotation of the conductor in one direction when said switch is closed.

In witness whereof, I subscribe my signature, in the presence of two Witnesses.

. JOSEPH J. WESLEY. Witnesses: WALDO M. CHAPIN, JULE ZELENKO. 

